Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
A holiday delight featuring creamy cheesecake, tart homemade cranberry sauce, and a crisp graham cracker crust. Key ingredients include cream cheese, fresh cranberries, graham crackers, and a hint of orange.
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Ingredients
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 ounces of cream cheese softened
- 3 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A small pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon of corn starch
- ¾ cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of sour cream
For the Cranberry Sauce:
- 7.5 ounces of fresh cranberries approximately 2 cups
- ¼ cup of orange juice
- ½ cup of water
- 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
- ¼ cup of granulated sugar
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 package plus 3 graham crackers roughly 1 ½ cups when crushed
- 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare Cheesecake Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, cornstarch, granulated sugar, sour cream, and a pinch of salt. Blend these ingredients for 3 minutes until smooth. Sequentially incorporate the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully integrated before adding the next.
- Cranberry Sauce Preparation: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberries, orange juice, water, maple syrup, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Once achieved, remove from heat and let cool.
- Crust Formation: Utilize a food processor to pulverize the graham crackers into a fine consistency. Add the melted butter and sugar, blending until evenly mixed.
- Crust Baking: Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray and lining it with parchment paper. Firmly press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the dish using the back of a measuring cup for even distribution. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven to cool.
- Assemble Cheesecake: Pour the cheesecake filling over the prepared crust. Spoon dollops of the cranberry sauce onto the filling, placing them sporadically. Use a knife to gently swirl the sauce into the filling, taking care not to penetrate the crust layer.
- Final Baking: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35 minutes. It is advisable to place an oven-safe bowl of water on the lower rack to create moisture within the oven.
- Cooling and Chilling: After baking, remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. Cover the dish and transfer it to a refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 6 hours.
- Serving: Once fully chilled, cut the dessert into square servings.
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